Bible Strands
1 Samuel 7:16
Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Samuel acts as the presiding judge over Israel during a period of national repentance and spiritual restoration, following his victory over the Philistines. He moves through established religious centers to oversee the people while maintaining his primary residence and altar at Ramah.
The words — The verb סָבַב (sa.Vav) means "he went round" or "made a circuit," paired with הָלַךְ (ha.Lakh) "he went." Combined with מִדֵּי שָׁנָה (mi./Dei sha.Nah) "every year," the phrasing establishes a fixed, recurring schedule rather than an ad hoc arrangement.
The thread — The pattern of judicial movement and regional oversight appears in the cross-references (Judges 5:10; Judges 10:4; Judges 12:14), where travel, riding, and judging tenures are documented without establishing a uniform administrative system.
Why it lands — The text requires recognition that Samuel’s authority was exercised through consistent, geographically dispersed visits rather than centralized rule. It demands that readers track the physical movement of leadership as a mechanism for maintaining covenant accountability across multiple communities.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth–el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
Cross-references
- Judges 5:10 You who ride white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and you who travel the road, ponder
- Judges 10:4 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair.
- Judges 12:14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years.
- Psalms 75:2 “When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.
- Psalms 82:3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.